Happy Thanksgiving ... what a great time to pause and appreciate our blessings!

Mother Nature’s blessings have been abundant in the surf department. Indeed, there have been so many swells I’ve lost count. Our biggest swell of the season (over 12 feet) is upon us on Aloha Friday. It’ll likely be too big for the final day of the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Now that’s big! It’s a better probability for Saturday, the last day of the holding period. However, nothing is set in stone. The outer reefs will be cracking Friday and Waimea Bay heaving on the inside bowl. If you’re trekking up to feel the energy, pack your patience or go early ... either way, be ready for some traffic in and out of the North Shore.

The North Pacific has notched up its storm size this past week, bringing us closer to the warning level range of 25 feet “crest to trough"or 15 feet local scale.What’s changed are higher wind speeds (45 knots) and a closer track of these more powerful storms moving toward Hawaii. Waves come from winds, so the higher the winds the bigger the waves. If they get close to Hawaii, say 1,000 miles, there’s little time for “decay.” Open ocean waves drop to half their size every 1,000 miles.

The 32nd annual Rell Sunn Menehune Surfing Championships are this Friday, Saturday and Sunday out at the Queen of Makaha’s favorite spot (guess).Yes, the future is on the Wild West this weekend and you should check it out. There’s only one Rell and only one event with that special something. The three divisions are Short, Long and Body Boarding. There are always awesome daily give aways and raffles. Every contestant gets a goody bag, T-shirt and lunch! Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the six finalists in each division. It’s keiki 12 years and younger, and Friday is the entry deadline, so go to RELLSUNN.COM or call 262-2488.

Unlike the first days, the men’s Reef Hawaiian Pro will finish in BIG surf at Haleiwa

Also, check out the Rell Sunn Educational Fund - it’s all about awareness for breast cancer. Auntie Rell passed away Jan. 2, 1998, at the young, vital age of 46. Hawaii state senator and former surfing champ Fred Hemmings reflected, “Rell embodied everything that is great about surfing, but she grew larger than that. She represented the most basic values we hold so dear in Hawaii. Rell was always a giver and never a taker. To say she was a loving, giving and always contributing personification of the Hawaiian aloha spirit is a weak testament to the immeasurable sum of her vital goodness.” Indeed, in Rell’s own words: “The Aloha spirit is real simple. You give and you give and you give ... and you give from here (the heart), until you have nothing else to give.”(Quotes from Rell’s website)

To finish off this week, I want to send out my thanks to my daughter Chelsea, who at 16 has given me more pride and joy than I could have ever imagined. Her amazing mom Rene! My mom, dad, brother and two sisters. To all my incredible SNN team, radio and TV friends who support our beautiful ocean lifestyle. And special thanks to Ron, Don, Terri and the MidWeek ohana for opening up the door for me so I could go deeper into the wonderful world of surfing. Last but not least, to you for being here right now - your support and kind words inspire me each and every week! A million mahalos to you on this 2007 Thanksgiving weekend. Stoked!

For ON or OFF status on the 25th Annual Vans Triple Crown, call 596-SURF and 638-RUSH by 7 a.m. daily.

GQ, dropping in 4 U!

Also, mandatory mahalo to J/B of HAWAIIAN WATER SHOTS, who’s always in or at the lineup!